Maintenance & Checks
Motorhome Habitation Checks: Gas, Electric, Water and Safety
A habitation check tests the gas, 230V electrics, water system, appliances and damp in the living area of your motorhome or campervan. Here's exactly what's inspected.
The MOT looks after your motorhome as a vehicle; the habitation check looks after it as a home. It's an annual inspection of everything in the living area — gas, 230V electrics, water, appliances and damp — and most UK insurers, clubs and campsites expect to see a valid certificate. The inspection takes a couple of hours and costs roughly £100-£150.
Gas system
A gas engineer pressurises the system and performs a tightness (drop) test to confirm no gas is leaking. They check the regulator, flexible hoses, gas locker ventilation and the flame pattern on the hob, grill and fridge. A poor flame or a hissing joint is a fail. Gas work on a motorhome must be carried out by someone qualified for touring caravan gas systems.
Electric systems
- The 230V side: polarity check on the hook-up inlet, condition of the cable, and that the RCD trips correctly.
- The 12V side: charger operation, battery condition and general wiring.
- Appliance earth bonding and the safety of any recent electrical additions.
Electric checks matter because a reversed-polarity hook-up on a UK site can energise exposed metalwork. Most modern vans have polarity protection, but an annual test confirms everything is sound.
Water and appliances
The engineer runs the water heater, flush toilet, fridge and heater on their available fuels, checks the water pump and looks for leaks. They'll also test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are present and functional.
Damp check
Every habitation check includes a full damp survey of the interior. This is one of the most valuable parts, because it catches water ingress early — read our guide to campervan damp checks for how readings are interpreted.
The certificate
A passed habitation check produces a certificate valid for 12 months. Keep it with your service records; it's one of the first documents a private buyer asks to see, and dealers list it in their adverts. When you're comparing vans, you can filter for ones with a current certificate on our motorhomes for sale page.
Tip: book the habitation check in early spring, so the certificate covers the whole summer season and is still in date when you come to sell.
- habitation check
- gas safety
- electrics
- maintenance
The Campervan Market Team
Practical, jargon-free guides written by the Campervan Market team — the UK's marketplace for buying and selling campervans, motorhomes and caravans.